Transport in Dublin

The Transport in Dublin section covers various methods of transport in and around the city. We have advice dealing with taxis, car hire, the airport, bus and train services along with information on cycling and walking.

We also link to websites which cover transport in detail so you can get the latest information to hand.

Don't worry if planning transport seams daunting, any of the members of staff here are always more than happy to help you arrange transport and give advice.

Bus

Dublin Bus provides bus services within Dublin city and to and from the surrounding areas. These services include city bus services, Railink, School link, Airlink, Nitelink and DART feeder buses. Dublin Bus also operates day tours and is obliged to provide services to people with disabilities.

Bus Éireann provides various bus services on a network of routes throughout Ireland. It operates intercity coach services and provides commuter services for major cities. City and town bus services are also provided, together with a local bus service throughout the country. Aircoach provides a 24-hour luxury coach service between Dublin Airport and Dublin city. Aircoach operate five routes, Ballsbridge and Leopardstown, which serve Dublin’s top hotels and places of business, Cork, and Belfast.

Dublin has an extensive bus network but only a few rail and tram lines. The buses can be slow and unreliable due to the city’s traffic but for many destinations outside the city centre (including the airport) they are the only public transport option.

On most city buses the fare depends on the distance you travel. If you are paying in cash, you tell the driver your destination, s/he tells you the fare, you drop the required coins in the farebox and s/he prints off your ticket. On most services the driver cannot give change or take banknotes: if you don't have the exact coins the driver will issue a printed change receipt which can only be redeemed at the Dublin Bus Head Office.

If you plan to use buses more than a few times in Dublin, it's well worth getting some type of prepaid ticket or pass, many of which are also valid on rail and/or tram services, such as the Leap Card. This will probably save money and certainly avoids having to carry a pocketful of coins! See the Section "Leap Card and other Transport Passes" below.

The busier stops have Real Time Passenger Information displays which use GPS tracking to tell you when the bus will arrive.

LUAS

Luas is Dublin’s light-rail transit service - a swift, reliable tram system crossing the city on two lines.

Tickets for Luas can be purchased at streetside vending machines. They’re available for single/return journeys or as flexi-tickets covering travel for seven or 30 days. Check the destination on the front of the tram before boarding, and you’re all set for a smart light-rail system serving not just stops along the River Liffey, but some of Dublin’s best sights.

The Luas Red Line runs from Saggart through the city centre to the Point Village or Saggart/Connolly Station in Dublin’s docklands. Highlights along the Red Line include the O2 arena, the National Museum of Decorative Arts & History at Collins Barracks and the historic Kilmainham Gaol.

The Green Line (22 stops) runs from Stephen’s Green out through Ranelagh and Dundrum to Brides’ Glen in the south. Highlights along the Green Line include the foodie village of Ranelagh, the shopping Mecca of Dundrum Town Centre, and stops a short distance from the Leopardstown racecourse.

The two lines are currently unconnected, but work is underway.

Walking and Cycling

Cycling is a recreation, a sport and a means of transport to get around Dublin City. Bicycles are commonly used by people seeking to improve their fitness and cardiovascular health. In this regard, bicycling is especially helpful for those with arthritis of the lower limbs and who are unable to pursue sports such as running that involve more impact to joints such as the knees. Cycling is also an inexpensive way to travel in Dublin City.

A new mini-site for cycling in Dublin is has been developed at www.dublincitycycling.ie. Developed by dublin.ie in collaboration with the Roads & Traffic Department of Dublin City Council the site features:

Cycle lane maps throughout the cityYour say on where new bike parking should be locatedA blog featuring events, news, consultations and surveysInformation on the benefits of cyclingWalkingThere’s no doubt about it, walking is good for you. Whether you want to walk to improve your general health, to keep fit, to control your weight, or perhaps to recover from a period of ill-health, walking can help. If you walk just one mile a day you will burn at least 100 calories, and this could result in a loss of ten pounds in a year without changing your eating habits.

Where to socialise in Dublin?

You can't visit Dublin without...

This is a landmark public house and restaurant famed for its traditional hospitality and award winning food and service. With food served from 9am to 11pm everyday this is the original travelers rest for those traveling southbound from Dublin. Unique property with many historic features and artifacts on show throughout with original pieces from Irish sporting history to American memorabilia on display ie letters retrieved fom the Titanic and Local sporting ledgends.

Temple Bar is an area of Dublin with cobble stones, pubs and street entertainment. A tradition of a genuinely warm welcome and first rate friendly service, is the hallmark of the friendliest watering hole in Dublin. Whether you are alone or with a group of friends, the craic is mighty and you will always feel at home at the Temple Bar. Overseas and out of town visitors will find our staff to be a valuable mine of information on Dublin's history and sights and can recommend others places to visit to make your stay a memorable time. Well known for one of the largest variety of whiskeys on sale in the world!

Situated in Glencullen on top of the Dublin mountains, Johnnie Fox's is one of Ireland's oldest and most famous traditional Irish pubs - and we are also famed as the highest pub in the country. At Johnnie Fox's there is Traditional Irish Music every night, plus on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. There are large bands that play through the year on selected dates. You can also see one of the top dancing performances in the country at our famous 'Hooley Night' - dinner & show (reservations recommended). One of the most interesting and historical pubs in Ireland.

Trendy Drinks

House Dublin occupies two Georgian Townhouses on Leeson Street, between The Grand Canal and St Stephen’s Green. House has a feeling of relaxed glamour, luxury and ease throughout. They’d love you to feel at home and choose the space you’d like for the time you need it – log fires burning daily in the Front Parlour, our Salon Bar and Conservatory, The Terrace by the pot bellied stove, down to the Garden with its olive and citrus trees. The GlassHouse, Wine Room, Library and Redroom all offer further areas in which to meet, eat and drink.

Cocktails are amazing and the food is brilliant- calamari and chicken wings are a must have! The atmosphere is bubbly and the decor is lively to say the least. Really cool bar in Dublin, very original and not just another generic Dublin bar. Cocktails are a must have.

Wholesome, fresh, hearty, award winning food accompanied by a concise but delicious wine menu, an extensive range of worldly beers, and unique and exciting cocktails served in casual, relaxed and comfortable surroundings. Nationally sourced seasonal produce, consisting of Irish meats, seafood from Irish waters and a dedication to the Irish artisan producer (with a bow to our European neighbours for the odd essential) are at the forefront of our ethos.

Dance the night away

Centrally located on Harcourt Street, Everleigh Garden is a unique nightclub experience. An electric atmosphere where our garden comes to life. This is a club for everyone. Our music policy caters for everyone, from chart hits to electro-house and from RnB to all the old favourites. Combined with our almost-outdoor Mediterranean atmosphere, we know you’ll feel a world away from the city.

Dandelion on St Stephen’s Green is at the epicentre of the Dublin social scene and houses a busy restaurant, bar and club. A 22,000sq foot venue open from midday until close 7 days a week and now under new management, Dandelion is already the cornerstone of the celebrity circuit in Dublin. Dandelion takes its place amongst the über cool destination venues throughout the World and is inspired by bar cultures in London and New York with 21st century opulence and a touch of decadence added to the heady mix. Every Friday night the atmosphere is electric in Dandelion with DJ, percussion and sax with the very best promotions to set this bar apart as the best in town.

Dandelion Club has an electric atmosphere and is a heady mix of opulence and decadence showcasing an incredibly diverse range of music to a warm and friendly crowd. Operating at a point between hot and cool, Dandelion simmers without boiling as DJs spin the best hip hop, R&B, funk, soul, jungle and mixes.

Really good Restaurants

If the kitchen is the engine room of Chapter One then the restaurant is most definitely “The Good Room”! It has been renovated and upgraded over the past five years under the watchful eye of our interior architect Maria MacVeigh. It is sleek and elegant with the use of textured fabrics and warm colours to create a comfortable and elegant space.

Sichuan Cuisine originates from Sichuan province in south western China. It is renowned for its bold flavours brought about by liberal use of garlic and Sichuan peppers. Be aware when you ask for spicy... they mean SPICY!!!

Great places for a burger

Aberdeen Angus burgers are mouth watering good and are rumoured to cure the worst of hangovers! Totally lives up to the hype. Definitely a menu styled off of In and Out in California, Bunsen delivers freshly minced burgers to order. It being freshly minced allows them to offer you the option to order it rare or medium rare (an oddity in Ireland, I can assure you).

Steak-House

F.X.BUCKLEY. Steakhouse at The Bull and Castle offers Irelands best steaks, with the experience and knowledge of over 25 years of serving the perfect steak. We change our menus seasonally to reflect the best Irish produce and to ensure the highest quality in both our beef and local fresh seafood.

Bird

Crackbird does chicken so well. Just think of a really really good version of KFC.

CrackBird, one of restaurant entrepreneur Joe Macken's litany of trendy Dublin eateries has been rehoused several times, now taking pride of place in an old Chinese restaurant on Dame Street. Macken has pretty much single-handedly brought fried chicken back in fashion, but it's the quality of CrackBird that really makes it a cut above the rest. You can opt for a full or half chicken in either buttermilk batter or soy and garlic. The sides are all reasonably priced and you can wash it down with a large jam jar full of lime and ginger spritz or homemade lemonade without breaking the bank.

The Lord Mayor's Lounge has provided a platform to immortalise each of Dublin's Lord Mayors who, on the day of their inauguration, take a short stroll from his residence at the Mansion House to The Shelbourne Hotel to partake of refreshments in the legendary Lord Mayor's Lounge.

The City West Hotel

Conference, Leisure & Golf Resourt

• Located just 25 minutes from Dublin City • Set on 240 acres of majestic parkland at the foothills of the Dublin mountains• LUAS (Light Rail) connection to Dublin City just minutes from the hotel entrance• 20m heated indoor pool with Jacuzzi, steam room, sauna and heated caldarium• Family-friendly hotel offering; Kids clubs, movie nights, discos and so much more during the school holidays• Complimentary Wi-Fi in all public areas and wired connection in all guest rooms 2,500 FREE car parking spaces• 18 hole Championship Golf Course• Two on-site restaurants; The Hibernian Bistro and Lemongrass Restaurant

The Forge Boutique GuestHouse

The Guesthouse Facilities include:• 18 Deluxe Bedrooms• All Rooms include Ensuite• Wheelchair Accessible Lift• All Rooms include TV and Wifi• Superb Location in Saggart Village• Less than 1 Mile from Citywest Business Campus• On Site Cafe and Bistro• Newly Renovated (August 2006)• Less than 1 Mile from Citywest• Championship Golf Courses

The Bearna Rua Lodge

Bearna Rua Lodge in Redgap, Rathcoole, County Dublin has got many facilities to suit the needs of its guests as follows:• Private and Secure Car Parking• All bedrooms Ensuite• Satellite TV in all bedrooms• Tea/Coffee Making Facilities in all bedrooms• Hairdryer in all bedrooms• Wireless broadband available

What People Say

"My daughter had a fabulous week there in April,a really professional and well run establishment,we will certainly be back."

"Ciara has arrived back and is missing everyone at Coolmine. She had a great time! Thank you for everything and for making her time there so enjoyable! She has made a friend and wants to go back next year! She has fallen in love with Dancer. I know she wants to come again"